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RECAP | Crushers outlast Otters in series finale
Avon, Ohio – The Evansville Otters tied the game in the eighth but Lake Erie used a wild pitch to score the game winning run in a back and forth 5-4 Crushers’ victory Thursday night.
The game start time was delayed by an hour due to rain and then amounted to the Otters’ first three hour nine-inning game of the season, ending past 11 PM local time. The loss meant Evansville suffered their first time being swept this season.
Trailing 4-2 in the top of the eighth, the Otters mounted a rally. John Dyer led off with a base hit. Jake Green would later follow with a single and Bryan Rosario walked to load the bases.
Noah Myers grounded a ball to the Crushers’ second baseman, who threw the ball away - scoring two runs to tie the ballgame.
The Crushers responded in the bottom of the eighth. A leadoff base hit started the inning. The Crushers runner stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. A two-out wild pitch scored the game-deciding run.
The story early in the game was one-run innings. Jomar Reyes answered the Crushers’ first run of the game with a 351 foot solo home run to left field in the second inning. Evansville took a temporary lead on a Dakota Phillips RBI single in the third.
Lake Erie tied the game with a run in the bottom of the third before taking the lead with one run in the fourth and adding insurance with a run in the sixth.
James Krick provided key relief for the Otters, pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Jhon Vargas took the loss for Evansville, allowing three runs over four and two-thirds with four strikeouts.
Evansville received hits from eight different players and worked six walks but left 11 runners stranded.
Evansville returns home this weekend for a three game series with the Windy City Thunderbolts before the All-Star Break. Friday night’s first pitch is slated for 6:35 PM CT as part of Old National Bank Employee Appreciation Night.
All home and road Otters games this season are televised on FloSports with audio-only coverage available for free on the Evansville Otters YouTube page.
The Evansville Otters are the 2006 and 2016 Frontier League champions.
The Otters play all home games at historic Bosse Field, located at 23 Don Mattingly Way in Evansville, Ind. Stay up-to-date with the Evansville Otters by visiting evansvilleotters.com, or follow the Otters on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For more information, visit evansvilleotters.com or call (812) 435-8686.
